Stringed musical instrument



(No Model.)

0. H. GASKINS., STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Dec. 81, 1895.

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M. PHOTO-D1110. WASHINGTON. [M1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE H. GASKINS, OF SHAMOKIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 552,116, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed February 20, 1895. Serial No. 539,040. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLAUDE II. GASKINS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Shamokin, in the county of N orthumberland and Stateof Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inStringed Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this speciiication.

My'invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments,which in some degree combines the characteristics of a mandolin and aharp, and which I term a mandolin-harp.

The object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of theabove character in which the volume of sound will be increased, greaterstrength be imparted to the structure, and the tone and quality of theinstrument be improved.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of amandolin-harp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, the sounding-board being removed, showing the rim, theneck and the head being made integral in one piece. Fig. 3 is across-section on the line 06 :1 Fig. 1, showing the perforated bracesfor strengthening the instrument.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the body and 2a curved extension or prolongation on the left or upper side thereof; 3,the neck provided with the usual finger-board at, frets 5, head 6, andkeys 7.

The numeral 8 designates the tail-piece 9, the bridge.

In constructing the instrument, I proceed as follows: I first saw orotherwise produce out of a suitable piece or block of wood the neck 3,head 6, and the rim consisting of two sections 12 and 13, all of whichare made integral. The said rim-sections extend from the left-hand upperend of the head, rearwardly therefrom, to form the extension 2 and body1, the said rim following the configuration shown in the drawings,forming the curved front 14;, rear portion 15 and side depressions 16and 17, the latter of which forms a support for the instrument restingupon the knee of the player. The bottom 18 and soundingboard have theiredges curved toconform to the configuration of the rim, and are securedthereto, as usual. The sounding-board at a point in front of the bridge,and also in the extension or prolongation, is formed with sound-openings19. The neck, being formed integral with the head and body, is bracedand strengthened, there being no liability of its breaking at its pointof junction with the body, which is always the weakest point ininstruments of this character or description. Located at suitable pointsin the body and extension are braces 20, consisting of thin strips ofwood formed with perforations 21, so as not to obstruct the sound-waves.

prolongation, as described, the volume of sound is increased and thetone of the in strument improved in quality. The neck, head, and rim,being made in a single piece or integral, the instrument is greatlystren gthened, whereby it is rendered more durable in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In a stringedmusical instrument, the combination with the curved body rim, the curvedand tapering extension rim, and the neck, united with said body rim andwith the contracted end of the said extension made integral therewithand formed with apertures intermediate said contracted end, and the bodyrim, to receive the string keys, of the bottom secured to said rims, thetop secured to said rims provided with sound openings, and the series ofbraces extending transversely across the instrument and formed withsound openings, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as any own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

CLAUDE H. GASKINS. lVitnesses:

P. J. HORIGHTON, AUGUST PETERSON.

By forming the body with the extension or

